Tennessee football: 10 Vols who did not benefit from 2019 spring practice

It was clear that defensive line would be a wide open race for Tennessee football heading into this spring. Emmit Gooden was the one proven guy up front, and he managed to hold onto his position as one of the main tackles.

However, the other spot was a wide open race. LaTrell Bumphus, who has played multiple positions, was definitely in the running for the one defensive end spot there. But when the dust settled, he was nowhere to be found as a threat in the first-team rotation.

Alongside Gooden were John Mincey and Matthew Butler, the latter of whom was the breakout star in spring practice. Then, in the spring game itself, he was only able to register one tackle, which is even worse news.

Make no mistake, Bumphus is limited now as a junior. He’s not big enough at 6’3″ 264 pounds to be able to play one of the tackle spots, and he’s not really built to line up at outside linebacker. This is why he’s switched around a lot.

With other young guys to compete with, transfer Aubrey Solomon a future threat and three guys, two of whom are junior college, coming this summer, he may want to switch positions or redshirt. There just may be no room for him on the line.